US2768451A - Laundry pre-drying, shakeout and conditioning tumbler - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1956 PURKETT 2,768,451

LAUNDRY FREE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER- Filed March 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J FIG. I.

INVENTOR U'RKET Maw ATTORNEYS 30, 1956 F. PURKETT 68,451

LAUNDRY'PREDRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed March 12, 1954 -4 Shets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6.

/ FIG. 9.

INVENTOR 3 f/ FRED L. PURKETT i7 L/ BY @MW ATTORNEYS Oct. 30; 1956 F. L. PURKETT 2,768,451

LAUNDRY PRE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed March 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I2.

INVENTOR FRED L. PURKETT BY /%m/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,768,451 LAUNDRY PRE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Fred L. Purkett, Joplin, Mo., assignor to Pnrkett Manufacturing Company, Joplin, Mo., a partnership Application March 12, 19s4, Serial No. 415,803

8 Claims. or. 34-87) This invention relates to laundry tumbling apparatus for conditioning laundered articles for subsequent processng.

An important object of. the invention is to improve the construction and operation, as well as the efiiciency and economy, of apparatus of the indicated type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the indicated type which will condition laundered articles more quickly and effectively than prior apparatus utilized for this purpose, thereby speeding up the conditioning operation, as well as the subsequent ironing operation, all with no increase in personnel or labor costs, thus increasing economy and speed of processing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the indicated type including a novel arrangement of air heating and circulating means for pie-drying laundered articles simultaneously and in conjunction with the tumbling and conditioning thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for maintaining a circulation of heated air through the tumblers and wherein the circulating means may be readily disconnected from a part of the tumbler to permit the latter to swing between its loading and discharging positions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the indicated type including a novel arrangement of means supporting the tumbler for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, as well as rotatable movement about an axis disposed substantially at right angles to the horizontal axis.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for rotating the tumbler which, at the same time, acts as a support for the tumbler while it is in load receiving position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of.

apparatus of the indicated type having a pair of doors movable to cover and uncover the open mouth of the tumbler and including novel means for effecting simultaneous movement of the doors and for automatically maintaining them in open positions when the tumbler is moved away from its loading position toward its dis-' charging position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the indicated type having heating coils and.

right in Figure 1, parts being removed to show the interior construction;

Patented Oct. 30, 1956 Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross seetional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

I Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the apparatus taken along the line 66 of Figure 5, parts being broken away to show the interior construction;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line 77 of Figure 6; V FigureS is an enlarged view similar to Figure 7 of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 7; I

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional vie of 'a'portion of the apparatus taken on the line 99 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the line-10-'10 of Figure 5;

' Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical crossesectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line 1111 of Figure 5; and.

Figure 12 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a portion of the blower assembly partly in cross-section to show the interior construction.

In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises a. rotatable tumbler or tumbling drum mounted for swingingmovement about a horizontal axis between a load receivingland a load discharging position. Novel means are provided for rotating the tumbler, such means, in addition, serving as an auxiliary support for one end of the tumbler when the same is in load receiving position. Novel means are also provided. for supplying heated air to the tumbler and for exhausting it therefrom during the tumbling operation, the latter arrangement including a pair of perforated doors and a novel mechanism for controlling same.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the main supporting base frame of the apparatus consisting of end frame members 11 and 12 and transverse frame members 13 and 14, connected to the end frame members in any suitable manner, as by welding. Suitable braces such as 15 and 16 may be provided where desired to strengthen and rigidify the frame.

The end frame members may desirably be formed At the top thereof, each of the end frame members is provided with a bearing 23 (Figures 3 and 11) for receiving a hollow trunnion or stub shaft 24. The bearings 23 may be of any suitable type and are desirably secured to the top of the horizontal structural members 19. As will be apparent, the bearings 23 and trunnions 24, at opposite ends of the frame, 'are axially aligned. i

The trunnions 24 rotatably support a cradle or frame 25 which carries a rotatable tumbling drum 26 hereinafter described. The cradle or frame 25 is herein illustrated as formed of end flanges or plate members 27 and 28 connected together by a yoke shaped frame member 29 and by an additional frame member 30. The end flanges or plate members 27 and 28 are preferably circular in shape and each provided with a centrally disposed opening 32 (Figure 11) through which the trunnions 24extend. The

plate member 27 is further provided with an outwardly opening substantially U-shaped groove or track 33 around.

its periphery for receiving a chain belt or the like 34 for. a purpose to be described,

The yoke shaped frame 29 is made up of end frame members and 36 and side frame members 37 and 38. The end frame members 35 and 36 are welded or otherwise secured to angle irons 39 and 40 which latter, in turn, are secured to the end flanges 27 and 28. As will be apparent from Figure 2, the end frame members 35and 36 extend across the inner faces of the plate members 27 and 28 with their central portions adjacent but to one side of the opening 32.

Extending downwardly from each of the end frame members 35 and 36 adjacent the central portions thereof is a pair of plate members 41 and 42 (Figure 11) to which is secured one part of a two part clamp 43. These clamps are designed to be clamped around the inwardly projecting portions of the trunnions 24 and, if desired, a layer of b'abbitt metal 43a may be interposed between the clamps and the trunnions to assist in centering the latter.

The means for turning the cradle comprise the chain belt 34, hereinabove referred to, which is trained over the end flange 27 of the cradle and over a pulley or sprocket 44, carried by the end frame member 11, and drivingly connected with an electric motor 45, by any suitable type of gear reduction device. The electric motor 45 is also carried by the end frame member 11 and suitable controls (not shown) including limit switches, etc, are provided for manually and/or automatically initiating and stopping operation thereof.

The tumbling drum 26, previously referred to herein, is rotatably carried by a bearing structure indicated a whole by the numeral 48 (Figure 9). The bearing structure 48, in turn, is carried by the side frame member 38 of the yoke-shaped frame 29, suitable braces between the member 38 and the end plates 27 and 28 being provided where needed to strengthen and rigidify the structure.

In a preferred arrangement, the bearing structure 48 comprises a cylindrical sleeve or shell 50 in which is arranged a suitable roller bearing structure 51 rotatably supporting a stub shaft 52. The shell or sleeve 50 is secured to the side frame member 38 by a collar 53 (Figure 7) welded to the respective members. At its inner end, the stub shaft 52 has a flange 54 secured thereto which, in turn, is bolted or otherwise secured to a hub member 55.

The tumbling drum 26 is provided with a cylindrical preferably perforate body or wall 56, the rear edge of which is secured to a ring 57. The ring 57 is supported by radially disposed spokes 58 carried by the hub member 55. The hub 55, ring 57 and spokes 58 form a sturdy wheel type structure for supporting the tumbling drum.

At its forward end, the tumbling drum 26 is formed with a frusto-conical shaped wall 59 provided with a relatively large end opening 60 through which the tumbler may be loaded and unloaded in a manner to be described. On the interior thereof, the tumbler '26 is preferably provided with ribs 61 to assist in lifting and dropping articles to provide the desired tumbling action, as well as exposure to heated air, as hereinafter described.

Rotation of the tumbling drum is effected by -a novel pulley and belt arrangement consisting of four belts 63, an idler pulley 64, and a driving pulley 65 driven by an electric motor 66 carried by the end flange member 27 of the cradle. The driving pulley 65 is rotatably mounted directly on a frame 67 (Figures 5 and 10) :secured to the flange members 27 and 28, while the idler pulley 64 is rotatably mounted on an auxiliary frame 68 slidably mounted on the main frame 67. The auxiliary frame 68 is connected to the main frame 67 by an adjustable connection 69 which permits adjustment of the auxiliary frame to maintain the desired tension in the belts.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, the belts "63, are

trained around the idler and driving pulleys and around 'the periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the tumbling drum 26 adjacent the forward end thereof. An important feature of the invention is the locating of the idler and driving pulleys in such fashion that they occupy positions above the tumbling drum when it is in load receiving position. This is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5. As a result of this arrangement, the belts 63 and associated mechanism serve as an auxiliary support for the tumbler to absorb and offset shocks produced by dumping a heavy load of densely compacted laundered articles thereinto during the loading operation.

Adjacent the rear thereof, the tumbler 26 is provided with a perforated back plate 70 (Figure 7) Which is preferably secured to the forward edges of the spokes 58 to strengthen and stiffen same. The plate 70 defines the rear end of the tumbling compartment of the tumbling drum and is provided with a removable section 71 (Figure 2) to facilitate cleaning and the removal of lint.

A back closure plate 72 for the tumbling drum (Figures 6 and 7) is arranged rearwardly of and spaced from the plate 70 and spokes 58, and is held in position on the shell 50 in any suitable manner as by brackets, tie rods and the like securing it to the transverse frame members and/ or braces of the cradle. The periphery of the plate 72 is provided with an annular sealing member 73 which cooperates with a sealing member '74 carried by the ring 57 to form a reasonably leak-proof joint. The closure plate 72 cooperates with a perforated plate hereinafter described to provide an air chamber therebetween and is provided with an upper removable cleanout door 75 to permit access to such chamber.

As shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7, a heating element 76 is mounted in the space between the spokes 58 and closure plate 72, such heating element preferably consisting of a plurality of concentrically arranged heating coils 77 each connected at its ends to an inlet header 78 and an outlet header 79. The coils 77 may desirably be provided with fins 80 to increase the heat transfer and radiation therefrom. The heating coils 77 are held in position by radially disposed strips 80a, carried by a hub 8%, the hub 80b, in turn, being clamped to the sleeve 50.

.Rearwardly of the coils 7'7 and between these coils and the rear closure plate 72 is disposed a plate 81 which together with the closure plate 72 forms the air chamber hereinabove referred to. The plate 81 is provided with concentric series of openings 82 each series preferably being disposed adjacent and opposite the associated coil 77. The plate 81 is mounted'on the shell 50 in any suitable manner and desirably has its periphery secured to a member 82a secured to the closure plate 72.

Air is supplied to the space between the closure plate 72 and the perforated plate 81 by a blower 83 (Figures 1,2 and 12) driven by an'electric motor 84, the blower and motor both being mounted on the end frame member 12 in any suitable manner. in a preferred arrangement, the outlet manifold 85 of the blower is disposed substantially parallel .to the closure plate 72 and the inlet manifold 86 of the closure plate '72 is disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the closure plate so that air is introduced to the space between the plate 31 and the closure plate 72 in a tangential direction. In order to provide a sealed joint between the manifolds 85 and 86, the ends thereof are .cut off at a bias, and flanged, as shown at 87 and 88, so as to produce a wedging and tightening action as they move together. A rubber gasket or the like may desirably 'be provided to increase the sealing action such gasket being permanently secured to the flanged end of either manifold.

To assist in controlling and directing the movement of air into the tumbling chamber inner and outer series of baffles 90 and 91 are mounted on the rear edges of the spokes 58. These baflles provide a substantially annular opening 92 therebetween through which heated air is directed into the tumbling chamber. By shortening or lengthening the radial dimensions of these baffles the size of the opening 92 may be varied as desired.

In its normal operating position, the open mouth of the tumbling drum is adapted to be closed by a pair of semi-circularly shaped doors 93 and 94 which, in closed positions, rest against a ring shaped member 95 supported in position adjacent the mouth of the tumbler by arms 96 depending from the side frame member 37 of the yoke-shaped frame 29. These doors are perforated, as shown, for the discharge of air therethrough from the tumbling chamber.

The doors 93 and 94 are supported by novel means which affect simultaneous movement thereof between closed and opened positions and which are automatically operable to retain the doors in open positions when the tumbler is swung away from its loading and normal operative position toward its discharge position. Such means comprise vertically disposed shafts 97 and 98 turnably mounted in upper and lower bearing members 99 and 99a supported by the end frame members 11 and 12. At their upper ends the shafts 97 and 98 have horizontally extending portions 100 and 101 connected at their outer ends to vertically extending portions 102 and 103, the latter, in turn, carrying horizontally extending arms 104 and 105 connected to the doors 93 and 94. As will be apparent from the described arrangement the doors 93 and 94 will swing between closed and opened positions as the shafts 97 and 98 turn in the bearings 99 and 99a.

Secured to and extending outwardly from the shafts 97 and 98, preferably adjacent the lower ends thereof, are arms or brackets 107 (Figure 4) suitably joined together for simultaneous swinging movement by a connecting rod 108. The arms or brackets 107 extend outwardly in opposite directions from their respective shafts 97 and 98 so as to provide the desired simultaneous opening and closing movement of the individual doors as aforesaid. Springs 109 are connected between each bracket 107 and the end frame members 11 and 12 for the purpose of urging the doors to opened or closed positions, as the case may be, when the arms or brackets pass dead center.

Means are provided for retaining the doors in opened positions when the tumbler is moved away from its normal operating position, as aforesaid, such means comprising a lever 111 (Figure 3) pivotally connected to end frame member 12, as at 112, the lower end of the lever being connected to an arm 113, mounted on the shaft 97, by a link 114. At its upper end, the lever 111 carries a roller 115 adapted to bear against, and cooperate with, a cam 116 mounted on the end flange 28 of the cradle or frame 25. As best shown in Figure 3, the cam 116 has an inwardly curved portion 117 against which the roller 115 rests when the tumbler is in its normal operative position, and a substantially arcuately curved portion 118 adapted to engage the roller 115 when the tumbler is moved away from its loading position, to maintain the doors in opened positions. The doors 93 and 94 are preferably manually moved between open and closed positions although it will be appreciated that automatic means may be provided for the purpose.

In order to meet varying installations and conditions of operation, it will usually be desirable to provide some means for controlling the air supplied to the tumbler by the blower. In accordance with the invention, this may desirably be accomplished by the provision of a butterfly type of valve consisting of a valve plate 119 (Figure 12) having stub shafts 120 and 121 secured to the upper and lower edges thereof and turnably mounted in bearings 122 and 123 positioned in the manifold of the blower housing. The stub shaft 120 projects upwardly from the manifold and is provided with a handle 124 having an opening 125 therein adapted to be selectively engaged with any one of a series of arcuately disposed pins 126, projecting upwardly from the top of the manifold. The valve plate or damper l by a rotatable joint '128, such as Barco joint.

119 may be moved to different operative positions by lifting upwardly on the handle 124 to disengage a pin 126 from the opening 125 in the handle, then turning the handle to move the valve plate or damper to the desired position, following which the handle is lowered to engage a selected pin in the opening in the handle. The valve plate or damper 119 is preferably less in width than the width of the manifold so that the supply of air will not be entirely out off when it is moved to what would normally correspond to closed position.

Since the heating coils 77, hereinabove described, are mounted for swinging movement with the tumbler, this must be taken into consideration in connection with the supplying of steam or other heating fluid thereto. While this may, and has been done, in many instances, by the provision of a flexible type of tubing or hose, it is preferred to utilize an arrangement of the type shown more clearly in Figures 6, 7 and 11. As therein shown, a steam supply pipe 127 of any suitable type is connected to the inlet header 78, passes rearwardly through the closure plate, then laterally across the back of the plate, then forwardly between the tumbler and end plate 28 of the cradle to the hollow trunnion 24. It then passes through the hollow trunnion 24 (Figure 11) and at its outer end is connected with a source of steam or other heating fluid A steam exhaust pipe 129 is similarly connected to the outlet header 79 and passes through the other trunnion 24 where, as before, it is connected to a steam exhaust pipe by a rotatable joint 128. In order to avoid eccentric motion when the cradle is turned, the portions of the steam supply and exhaust pipes which pass through the trunnions may be suitably centered therein by adjustable set screws 131.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

In normal load receiving condition, the tumbling drum occupies the position shown in Figure 1 with the inlet manifold 86 of the back cover plate 72 in sealing engagement with the outlet manifold of the blower 83. The tumbling drum may be rotating or stationary and the doors 93 and 94 will be in the open positions shown in broken lines in Figure 5. A load of laundered articles from which the water has been partially extracted in the usual manner will then be introduced into the tumbler through the open mouth thereof, in any suitable manner as by a tiltable cart or the like (not shown). The doors 93 and 94 are then closed and suitable electrical controls (not shown) are actuated to initiate rotation of the tumbling drum if it is not already rotating. At the same time, the blower 83 is started to supply air to the apparatus.

Air from the blower, controlled as desired by the damper 119, passes tangentially into the chamber 75 between the back closure plate 72 and the adjacent perforated plate 81, and then passes through the perforations in the plate 31 which, as previously indicated herein, are positioned to discharge the air directly onto the coils 77. The air, heated to the desired temperature by the heating coils 77, passes through the opening between the inner and outer baifies and 91 and thence through the perforated rear plate 70 of the tumbler into the tumbling chamber proper. Here the articles being tumbled are thoroughly exposed to the heated air following which the air passes outwardly through the perforations in the doors and in the tumbling drum for discharge to the atmosphere.

When the articles have been exposed to the conditioning operation for the desired length of time, usually for a few minutes only, the blower is shut down, the doors 93 and 94 moved to open positions and the controls for the motor 45 actuated to initiate swinging movement of the cradle and tumbler to its discharge position. This movement, as previously explained herein, is brought about by a chain or belt 34, trained around the end flange member 27 of the cradle and around a pulley 44 driven by the motor 45. Means (not shown) may desirably be provided for automatically stopping themotor 45 when the tumbler reaches its discharge position. Alternatively, this may be accomplished by manually actuating the switch which controls the motor.

When the tumbler reaches its discharge position the now conditioned and partially dried laundered articles are discharged through the open end thereof into a cart or other receptacle suitably positioned for this purpose. To assist in controlling and directing the discharge of laundered articles from the tumbler a guide or guard 13?: may be provided, such guide or guard preferably being secured at its lower end to a fixed portion of the main supporting base frame such as the auxiliary structural member 134. As will be apparent, the guide or guard 133 is fixed in position and hence does not move with the tumbler as it is swung between loading and unloading positions.

As soon as the tumbling drum moves away from its normal operative position the doors 93 and 94 are maintained in their open positions by virtue of the engagement of the roller 11.5 with the arcuately curved portion 118 of the cam 116. This prevents the door being accidentally closed While the tumbler is away from its normal operative position thereby eliminating the possibility of damage to the doors when the tumbler is returned to such position.

After the conditioned articles are discharged from the tumbler the motor 45 is operated in the reverse direction to thereby return the tumbler to its loading and normal operative position. The apparatus is then ready for receiving another load of laundered articles following Which the described cycle of operations is repeated.

The various electrical controls for the apparatus, some of which are designated generally herein by the numerals 135, 136, 137 and 138, may desirably be mounted on a panel forming a part of the end frame member 11 of the main supporting frame 10. While these controls form no part of the present invention and hence are not specifically illustrated herein, their general nature and functions Will be briefly described to further clarify the operation of the apparatus.

The motor 66 for rotating the tumbling drum may desirably be controlled by a timing mechanism adapted to be set to cause the drum to rotate continuously in one direction for a predetermined period of time. At the end of this time the motor and drum stop and a signal light flashe on to signal the end of the tumbling operation. In an alternative arrangement, the timing mechanism may be combined with a reversing control whereby the motor 66 is periodically reversed to cause the drum to rotate first in one direction, and then in the other, during the tumbling operation. In such alternative arrangement means are preferably provided for optionally cutting out the reversing control if continuous rotation of the tumbling drum in one direction is desired.

The motor of the blower 83 may be controlled by the same timing mechanism used for the motor 86 or by conventional start and stop controls, as desired. The circuit for thi motor preferably includes any suitable type of switch operable to open the circuit so as to prevent operation of the blower when the outlet manifold 85 thereof .is not in sealing engagement with the inlet manifold 86 of the back closure plate 72 or, in other words, when the tumbling drum is away from its normal operative position as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Such a switch could be a micro-switch or plunger type switch associated with the flanged ends of the inlet and outlet manifolds of the closure plate and blower and operable to close the circuit when the manifolds are in sealed engagement and to open the circuit when such sealed engagement is broken.

The motor 45 for rotating the cradle to swing the tumbling drum between loading and unloading positions is a reversible type motor which may desirably be operated by push button controls adapted to initiate operation of the motor in a desired direction. The circuits for this motor preferably include limit switches actuatable by elements carried by the cradle and operable to stop the motor when the tumbling drum reaches its loading or unloading position, as the case may be. As will be appreciated, when one of these switches is actuated to open the circuit and stop rotation of the motor in one direction, such circuit remains open as long as the tumbting drum remains in the loading or unloading position, as the case may be, in which it ha been stopped. Hence, it is impossible to accidentally operate the motor in the wrong direction when the cradle is in either of its extreme positions of movement.

An important feature of the invention resides in arranging the driving means for the tumbling drum in such fashion that they render support to the tumbler when the same is in its normal load receiving position. This is accomplished by training the driving belts over spaced idler and driving pulleys supported by a frame positioned above the tumbling drum when the same is in load receiving position, and passing the lower end thereof around the lower portion of the tumbling drum. Means are also provided for adjusting the tension in the belts to maintain proper support of, and driving conditions for, the tumbler. By virtue of this arrangement, the apparatus is better able to withstand the shock of heavy compacted loads dumped into the tumbling drum without placing any undue strain on the bearing structure which normally supports the same.

Another important feature of the invention reside in the novel arrangement provided for supplying, distributing, and exhausting heated air from the tumbler as well as the means for controlling the amount of air supply. By virtue of these arrangements, the degree of drying of the laundered articles can be closely controlled so as to properly condition them for the subsequent ironing operation. In actual operation, the articles are properly conditioned in a matter of a few minutes and suificient moisture simultaneously removed to permit a much faster rate of ironing than has hitherto been possible.

Another feature of the invention resides in the improved arrangement of means for conducting the heating fluid to and from the heating coils. Such means may be permanently fastened in position on the apparatus for movement therewith and are superior in every way to the flexible hoses frequently employed for this purpose.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides improved apparatus for predrying and conditioning laundered articles from which a portion .of the water has been extracted in any suitable manner. The apparatus is highly eifective in operation, simple to install and operate, and requires a minimum of maintenance. In actual use, the apparatus of the invention has made it possible to greatly increase the number of articles processed through a laundry in a given period of time, and without the use of additional personnel, thereby lowering operating costs per unit processed with resultant increase in profits and/or lower prices to customers.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific details illustrated and described except as included in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a rotatable tumbling drum mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between loading and discharging positions, said tumbling drum being formed with a cylindrical body having a frustoconical wall at one end thereofterminating in a centrally disposed opening for loading and unloading the tumbling drum, a perforated partition in said tumbling drum adjacent the end thereof opposite said opening a closure for the opposite end of said tumbling drum spaced from the perforated partition member to provide a chamber therebetween and mounted for swinging movement therewith a series of concentrically disposed heating coils in said chamber, said closure having an inlet fitting for air associated therewith and movable into and out of communication with a source of air under pressure as the tumbler is swung between loading and discharging positrons.

2. An article conditioning apparatus comprising a supporting base frame, axially aligned bearings mounted on said frame, hollow trunnions turnably mounted in said bearings, a cradle carried by said trunnions, a rotatable tumbling drum carried by said cradle and including a heating coil, a conduit carried by said cradle for supplying heating fluid to said coil, a second conduit carried by said cradle for exhausting said heating fluid from said coil, said supply conduit passing through one of said trunnions and said discharge conduit passing through the other of said trunnions, and rotatable joints adjacent the outer ends of said trunnions adapted to sealingly connect said conduits to supply and discharge conduits exterior of said apparatus.

3. Apparatus of the type set forth in claim 2 including adjustable means for centering said conduits in said trunnions.

4. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a frame, a cradle mounted on the frame for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis, means mounted on the frame for rotating said cradle between a plurality of operative positions, a tumbler carried by the cradle for rotation about an axis substantially at right angles to said horizontal axis, means carried by the cradle for rotating said tumbler, said tumbler having an opening therein for loading and unloading same and being swingable with said frame between loading and unloading positions, doors swingably mounted on said frame for closing said opening when the tumbler is in its loading position, means carried by said cradle for maintaining said doors in opened positions when the tumbler is moved away from its load receiving position, a closure for the end of said tumbler opposite said loading and unloading opening, said closure being carried by said cradle, sealing means between said closure and tumbler, an inlet manifold for air carried by said closure member, an outlet manifold for an air supplying means carried by said frame, said inlet and outlet manifolds being disposed in sealing engagement when the tumbler is in its load receiving position, said inlet manifold being movable away from said outlet manifold when said tumbler swings toward its discharge position.

5. Article conditioning apparatus of the type set forth in claim 4 including a perforated wall in said tumbler, a plurality of concentrically disposed heating coils disposed between said wall and said closure, and a perforated plate positioned between said heating coils and closure for directing 'air onto and around said heating coils for passage through said perforated wall.

6. Article conditioning apparatus of the type set forth in claim 5 including inner and outer concentrically disposed bafile members positioned between said perforated wall and said heating coils and spaced apart to provide a substantially annular opening through which heated air passes to said tumbler.

7. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbling drum having a tumbling chamber therein, said tumbling drum having an opening at one end thereof for loading and discharging said tumbling drum, a perforated partition in said tumbling drum adjacent the end thereof opposite said opening and extending substantially to the periphery of the drum, a fixed closure for the drum spaced from the perforated partition member to provide a chamber therebetween, a series of concentrically disposed heating coils disposed in said chamber, the outermost heating coil extending substantially coextensive with the perforated partition, a fixed perforated plate positioned in said chamber between said heating coils and said closure, the perforations in said plate being arranged in a plurality of concentric series disposed opposite said heating coils whereby air passing therethrough is discharged directly onto said coils, and means for supplying air to said chamber for passage around said heating coils and through said perforated partition means into said tumbling chamber, the fixed perforated plate and fixed closure, forming an inlet passage for the air supplied to said chamber.

8. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbling drum having a tumbling chamber therein, said tumbling drum having an opening at one end thereof for loading and discharging said tumbling drum, a perforated partition in said tumbling drum adjacent the end thereof opposite said opening, a fixed closure for the drum spaced from the perforated partition member to provide a chamber therebetween, a series of concentrically disposed heating coils disposed in said chamber, baffles positioned in said chamber between said perforated partition and said heating coils, said bafile means comprising an inner and outer series of bafiies spaced apart to provide a substantially annular opening through which air from said heating coil is discharged through said perforated partition, a fixed perforated plate positioned in said chamber between said heating coils and said closure, the perforations in said plate being arranged in a plurality of concentric series disposed opposite said heating coils whereby air passing therethrough is discharged directly onto said coils, and means for supplying air to said chamber for passage around said heating coils and through said perforated partition means into said tumbling chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,073,945 Warner Sept. 23, 1913 2,002,796 Purkett May 28, 1935 2,016,552 McCreery Oct. 8, 1935 2,026,189 Purkett Dec. 31, 1935 2,067,543 Purkett Jan. 12, 1937 2,121,431 Hamm June 21, 1938 2,219,233 Locke Oct. 22, 1940 2,253,047 Purkett Aug. 19, 1941 2,359,481 Jorgenson et al. Oct. 3, 1944 2,360,161 Purkett Oct. 10, 1944 2,546,925 Geldhof et a1, Mar. 27, 1951 2,587,646 ONeil Mar. 4, 1952 2,608,769 ONeil Sept. 2, 1952 2,643,463 Grantham June 30, 1953 2,670,549 ONeil Mar. 2, 1954

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